JTBC
Currently, the K-Pop industry has two brand new idol survival programs that have just started airing, one being JTBC’s “PROJECT 7“. Hosting the show is celebrated and world-renowned actor Lee SooHyuk. He is joined by an accomplished panel of “directors” who possess mesmerizing skill in Ryan Jhun, Lee HaeIn, Ha SungWoon, RYUD, and Bada Lee. The program aims to put together a world class boy group of 7 members and push ahead to the forefront of the industry.
The survival program had an ambitious start, with its first round bringing in a total of 200 contestants. However, this was quickly trimmed down and coming into the third and most recent episode, only 100 contestants remained. Although there are only a handful of performances to go off of, the rankings are starting to take shape and strong contenders for the seven debut spots are beginning to appear – some more obvious than others.
Despite the sheer number of contestants, some have caught the eye of netizens as possible hidden gems that could make a long run up until the final episode.
Yeom YeChan
YeChan isn’t a stranger to the idol world, as some might know him under a different alias – ChoCo’s Jake. During his years of training, he’s been deeply involved in the music making process, already having created over 100+ songs and even featured in a web reality variety show, “ChoCo In Hollywood“, uploaded onto the M2 YouTube channel. From the very first round he’s already made an impact with his stable vocals, mesmerizing rap skills, and groovy dance moves. He has all the makings of a star and could very well have a hand at the group’s discography if he were to make the final lineup.
Fong Atilla
Fong Atilla is one the contestants who saw a sizeable jump in rankings between the second and third round, going from no. 37 to no. 12. Despite still being young in age, he already has some survival show experience and shows great promise. He’s demonstrated stable vocals and masterful dance moves that speaks to the hard work he’s put in towards his dreams of becoming an idol. In combination with his bright, infectious energy, he could be the future group’s happy pill, loved by fans across the globe.
Andy
Similarily, Andy also experienced a jump in rankings – although his was much bigger compared to Fong Atilla. In Andy’s case, he went from no. 60 to no. 17, moving up 40+ spots! Watching him from the first round to third, netizens praise his star aura and his effortless change in facial expressions. Combined with his steady vocals and bright personality, Andy has the potential to make it big in the K-Pop industry.
Abe Yura
Although his first round performance wasn’t shown on air, Abe Yura is quickly becoming known for his stellar dance skills. He’s been able to impress his fellow contestants and the directors looking to guide them. With his dancing prowess, he’s easily able to dominate the center position during dance breaks and shock viewers with his overflowing charisma. But more than that, he’s also shown great leadership capabilities, able to help his fellow contestants in various ways.
Kim DoHun
Every group needs a top tier vocalist and among the contestants Kim DoHun fits this profile. He was able to impress from day 1, able to hit every note with ease. He still needs to go through more tests and to display the ability to hit those same notes while performing highly intense choreography. However, the potential is there and netizens are hoping that he’ll be able to quickly rise through the ranks.
These contestants’ journey is far from over but they’ve already managed to prove themselves in such a short amount of time. Although they’ve yet to reach the coveted top 7, many netizens are hoping for their success and that many others will recognize their talent real soon.
Are you currently watching “PROJECT 7”? Which contestant do you support?
